• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.271-274
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• 2010

We examined the tunneling current behaviors of magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) cells utilizing conductive atomic force microscopy (AFM) interfaced with an external magnetic field generator. By introducing current through coils, a magnetic field was generated and then controlled by a current feedback circuit. This enabled the characterization of the tunneling current under various magnetic fields. The current-voltage (I-V) property was measured using a contact mode AFM with a metal coated conducting cantilever at a specific magnetic field intensity. The obtained magnetoresistance (MR) ratios of the MTJ cells were about 21% with no variation seen from the different sized MTJ cells; the value of resistance $\times$ area (RA) were 8.5 K-12.5 K $({\Omega}{\mu}m^2)$. Since scanning probe microscopy (SPM) performs an I-V behavior analysis of ultra small size without an extra electrode, we believe that this novel characterization method utilizing an SPM will give a great benefit in characterizing MTJ cells. This novel method gives us the possibility to measure the electrical properties of ultra small MTJ cells, namely below $0.1\;{\mu}m\;{\times}\;0.1\;{\mu}m$.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.11-14
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• 2009

We investigated the I-V curves and differential tunneling conductance of two, CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB-based, magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs): one with a low tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR; 22%) and the other with a high TMR (352%). This huge TMR difference was achieved by different MgO sputter conditions rather than by different annealing or deposition temperature. In addition to the TMR difference, the junction resistances were much higher in the low-TMR MTJ than in the high-TMR MTJ. The low-TMR MTJ showed a clear parabolic behavior in the dI/dV-V curve. This high resistance and parabolic behavior were well explained by the Simmons' simple barrier model. However, the tunneling properties of the high-TMR MTJ could not be explained by this model. The characteristic tunneling properties of the high-TMR MTJ were a relatively low junction resistance, a linear relation in the I-V curve, and conduction dips in the differential tunneling conductance. We explained these features by applying the coherent tunneling model.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.89-92
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• 2003

The tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) of a ramp-edge type junction with SrTiO$_3$barrier layer has been stud-ied. The samples with a structure of glass/NiO(600${\AA}$)/Co(100${\AA}$)/SrTiO$_3$(400 ${\AA}$)/SrTiO$_3$(20-100${\AA}$)/NiFe(100${\AA}$) were prepared by the sputtering and etched by the electron cyclotron (ECR) argon ion milling. Nonlinear I-V characteristics were obtained from a ramp-type tunneling junctions, having the dominant difference between two different external magnetic fields (${\pm}$100 Oe) perpendicular to the junction edge line. In the SrTiO$_3$ barrier thickness of 40${\AA}$, the TMR was 52.7% at a bias voltage of -50 mV The bias voltage dependence of resistance and TMR in a ramp-type tunneling junction was similar with those of the layered TMR junction.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 1993

Magnetoresistance was studied for the ferromagnetic tunneling junction in $Permalloy/Al_{2}O_{3}/Co$ prepared by evaporation in a vacuum of $1{\times}10^{-6}$Torr. We measured voltage-current characteristic and magnetic valve effect of prepared ferromagnetic tunneling junction sample. We investigated field-dependency of tunnel resistance by Wheat-stone bridge method and measured magnetic hysteresis curve by vibrating sample magnetometer. The tunneling is confirmed by measuring voltage-current characteristic. The hysteresis curve of magnetoresistance corresponds well with that of magnetization. The magnetoresistance ratio ${\Delta}R/R$ is 0.6% at room temperature.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.126-128
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• 2001

The effect of rapid thermal anneal (RTA) has been investigated on the properties of an FeMn exchange-biased magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) using magnetoresistance and I-V measurements and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) in an as-grown MTJ is found to be ∼27%, while the TMR in MTJs annealed by RTA increases with annealing temperature up to 300$\^{C}$, reaching ∼46%. A TEM image reveals a structural change in the interface of A1$_2$O$_3$layer for the MTJ annealed by RTA at 300$\^{C}$. The oxide barrier parameters are found to vary abruptly with annealing time within a few ten seconds. Our results demonstrate that the present RTA enhances the magnetoresistive properties of MTJs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 1992.10a
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• pp.76-77
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• 1992

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2003

The discoveries of antiferromagnetic coupling in Fe/Cr multilayers by Grunberg, the Giant Magneto Resistance by Fert and Grunberg and a large tunneling magnetoresistance at room temperature by Moodera have triggered enormous research on magnetic thin films and magnetoelectronic devices. Large opportunities are especially opened by the spin dependent tunneling resistance, where a strong dependence of the tunneling current on an external magnetic field can be found. We will briefly address important basic properties of these junctions like thermal, magnetic and dielectric stability and discuss scaling issues down to junction sizes below 0.01 $\mu\textrm{m}$$^2$with respect to single domain behavior, switching properties and edge coupling effects. The second part will give an overview on applications beyond the use of the tunneling elements as storage cells in MRAMs. This concerns mainly field programmable logic circuits, where we demonstrate the clocked operation of a programmed AND gate. The second 'unconventional' feature is the use as sensing elements in DNA or protein biochips, where molecules marked magnetically with commercial beads can be detected via the dipole stray field in a highly sensitive and relatively simple way.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.934-940
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• 2001

Magnetic properties were investigated for Si/SiO$_2$/NiFe(300 )/A1$_2$O$_3$(t)/Co(200 ) junction related with the parameters of $Al_2$O$_3$. Insulating $Al_2$O$_3$ layer was formed by depositing a 5~40 thick Al layer, followed by a 90~120s RF plasma oxidation in an $O_2$ atmosphere. Magnetoresistance was not observed for tunnel junction with 5~10 thick Al layer, but magnetoresistance was observed large for tunnel junction with 15~40 thick Al layer. Oxidation time did not largely influence magnetoresistance. Tunnel magnetoresistance effect depended on magnetization behavior of two ferromagnetic layers. Tunneling junction was confirmed through nonlinear I-V curve. In this work, tunneling magnetoresistance(TMR) up to 30 % was observed. This apparent TMR is an artifact of the nonuniform current flow over the junction in the cross geometry of the electrodes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2002.12a
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• pp.66-67
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• 2002

Magnetic tunnel junction에서는 spin의 tunneling이 가장 기본적인 현상이기 때문에 tunnel junction의 특성은 tunnel barrier의 성질에 크게 의존한다. Tunnel barrier로는 지금까지 $Al_2$O$_3$가 주로 사용되고 있다. 하지만 $Al_2$O$_3$의 경우는 barrier height가 2-3 eV로 높기 때문에 저 저항의 tunnel junction을 형성하기 위해서는 Al의 두께가 1nm 이하로 낮아져야 한다. 따라서 이를 극복하기 위해서 $Al_2$O$_3$ 보다 낮은 barrier height를 갖는 절연막을 tunnel barrier로 사용하고자 하는 연구가 많이 진행되고 있다 (예를 들면 TaOx [1], ZrOx [2], GaOx [3], and HfOx [4]). (중략)

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2000.09a
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• pp.325-326
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• 2000

Low temperature diagnosis was performed as a probe for the integrity of MTJ(Magnetic tunnel junction) process which is optimised for the given plasma oxidation condition. TMR ratio increased slowly with decreasing temperature than that expected from spin wave exitation theory〔1〕. Junction resistance (RJ) does not follow T$\^$-$\frac{1}{2}$/ law below 200 K, indicating another conduction path besides spin polarized tunneling is involved at low temperature. Temperature dependence of conductance dip and bias dependence of TMR with temperature are discussed, from which the quality of tunnel barrier and its formation process can be inferred.